Strongly criticising those who commit heinous crimes in the name of caste, MDMK leader Vaiko on Sunday sought stringent punishment for the persons involved in the recent murder of an inter-caste couple hailing from Dharmapuri.
Condemning the murder of a Scheduled Caste youth and his Vanniyar wife in Mandya district in Karnataka, allegedly at the behest of the latter’s family, he said, “Those who have committed such crimes should be punished by the court.”
The youth, N. Nandhish, had fallen in love with S. Swathi, and the couple had got married in September, against the wishes of the woman’s family. Last week, their bodies, with their limbs tied, were found in the Cauvery at Shivanasamudra in Karnataka. Three of the woman’s relatives were detained in connection with the case.
“There should be a full stop to these caste-related crimes, which have been happening in Tamil Nadu for the past few years. Tamil Nadu should bring in a new legislation to stop caste-related murders,” Mr. Vaiko said.
Stating that an “unsafe environment” for women and children was prevailing in the State, he said this was worrisome. The MDMK leader pointed out that the Sitling police had initially refused to register an FIR on the rape of a Scheduled Tribe girl, who subsequently died.
“The fact that the police refuse to receive and register complaints of sexual assault of Dalits and [members of] tribal communities shows how the administration is plagued by caste dominance,” Mr. Vaiko contended. He insisted that all those involved in the crimes and caste-related murders should be brought to book and maximum punishment be awarded to them.
